Lobelia plant named ‘Lobantis’

ABSTRACT

A new  Lobelia  plant particularly distinguished by its semi-upright mounded plant habit, large flower size and pink flower color.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Lobeliaerinus.

Varietal denomination: ‘Lobantis’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Lobelia,botanically known as Lobelia erinus. The new cultivar is propagated bycuttings resulting from the cross between ‘Y697A’ (unpatented) and‘S526’ (unpatented). ‘Y697A’ is a pink flower color selection of our ownbreeding, having a mounded plant habit and early flowering. ‘S526’ is alight pink flower color selection of our own breeding, having a stronggrowth and good branching.

As a result of this cross, the present cultivar was created in 1999 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatably asexually reproduced bycuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a three-year period. It has beenfound to retain its distinctive characteristics through successivepropagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Lobelia plant. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 12 weeks oldplants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London.

Comparison between the new cultivar ‘Lobantis’ and a similar cultivar‘Lobantis’ ‘Blue Star’ (unpatented) Plant height 15 cm 10 cm Plant width30 cm 35 cm Plant shape Semi-upright Spreading Flower Color Uppersurface 76B 95B Lower surface 76B 100A Flower tube 82C 95C

-   The plant:    -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Lobelia erinus.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—A seedling named ‘Y697A’ is one of our            seedings from our Y-generation of plants bred in 1998.        -   Pollen parent.—A seedling named ‘S526’ is one of our            seedlings from our S-generation of plants bred in 1992.-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright, mounded.        -   Plant height.—15 cm.        -   Speading area of plant.—30 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate growth.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching            at every node. Pinching will enhance branching. Branches            strong and flexible.        -   Blooming period.—From May until October.-   The stem:    -   -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly pubescent, glossy.        -   Color.—RHS 138B.        -   Length of internode.—13 mm, depending on the light            conditions where the plant is propagated.        -   Shape.—(Tri)angular.-   The foliage:    -   -   Shape.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and flat.            Broadly ovate with rounded apex, obtuse to attenuate base            and crenate margin.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent, glossy.        -   Length.—Young 30 mm, fully expanded 55 mm.        -   Width.—Young 10 mm, fully expanded 23 mm.        -   Color.—Upper side: RHS 137A. Lower side: RHS 138A.-   The flower:    -   -   Type and habit.—Flowers form at apical axis, usually one            flower per axil. Flowers labiate, upper lip consisting of            two small petals and lower lip consisting of three larger            and broader petals. Petals are fused at base into a tube.            Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers face outward.            Flower persistent. Texture, slightly pubescent. Oblong shape            with acute apex and entire margin.        -   Flower.—Width: Upper petals 1 mm, lower petals 6 mm. Length:            Upper petals 5 mm, lower petals 10 mm. Depth: 7 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, pubescent.        -   Buds.—Length: 7 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Form: Tubular. Color:            Light green.        -   Flower color.—Upper surface: RHS 76B. Lower surface: RHS            76B. Flower tube: RHS 82C.        -   Sepals.—No. of sepals: 5. Length: 6 mm. Width: 0.5 mm.            Texture: Smooth, slightly pubescent. Color: RHS 137B.        -   Flower stem.—Length: 25 mm. Angle: Upright. Strength: Rigid,            flexible. Color: RHS 137B.        -   Flower throat.—Color: Upper RHS 76B. Lower RHS 76B, spots            RHS N81A. Texture: Whiskered.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen number: 5. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            length: 1 mm. Pollen color: RHS 202B. Amount of pollen:            Moderate.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil length: 8 mm. Stigma shape: Bilobate.            Stigma diameter: 1 mm. Stigma color: N87A. Style color:            Light green. Ovary color: RHS 137B.-   Seed development: No seed development has been observed on plants of    the new Lobelia.-   Disease resistance: No susceptibility or resistance to fungal,    bacterial or viral pathogens has been noted.

1. A new and distinct variety of Lobelia plant, substantially asillustrated and described herein.